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illintm j tatw I Letters .Patent No. 94,016, dated August 24, r1869` 'IMPROVD SHOW-CASE FOR COUNTERS.

The Schedule refen'ed to in these Letters Patent and making part of the Same' To all 'whom it 'may concern Be it known that twe, Nom MAYo and EBEN S. MBS, of Bath, in the county of Sagadahoc, and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'imthe Construction of Show-Cases for Oounters, and the mode of opening and closing the doors or mirrors; and the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a showcase, with one of the mirrors or sliding doors open.

Fignre 2 shows a broken-off section of frame and slide, with fri'ction-spn'ng to hold it. i

Figure 3 shows a friction-spring, detached.

The object of our invention is'to make the most simple, eheap,.and durable' show cases, for .all of the various tlades and purposes for which they are used; and

Our inventiou consists -in the application and arrangement of the sliding doors or shutters in which the mirrors are framed, and the friction-springs, or equivalent means for holding the sliding doors closed, are secured, so that the cases are more couvenient,

,I the mirrors more safe, and less room is vrequired behind the counter, and things can be reached in wider cases than they can be when the doors are hinged to open outward.

To enable others to make and use our invention, we will descbe it more in detail, referring to the drawings, and to the letters marked thereon.

VVe make our improved show-cases A in any desired form, or of any required dimensions.

The frame for holding the plate-glass is constrnctedl' in Athe ordinary manner. The'back frame B, to whichthe doors D D are fit-- ted, is provided with grooves c c, in which the doors or sh'utters slide, there being spaces left in the rear of the bottoml sill for that purpose. v

In the grooves of the end and middle stiles a ala we fit and secure steel spiings b, or their equivalents, of sufiicient capacity to hold the sliding shntters D D closed, or iu any position, the sliding doors forming the frames for the' reflecting-mirrors, which are not exposed, nor liable to be broken by opening or falling down, as those are which are hinged to be opened outward.

The sliding doors or shutters D have knobs d d, to open-and close them by, which also serve the purpose of stops, to prevent the doors from bei-ng slid out of the grooves c c, by the knobs coming in contact with a cleat or strip of wood, E, secured 'to the base of the frame on the outside.

When show-cases are required to be made of. considerable depth, the doors being hinged at the bottom in the usual mann er, they require a considerable space behind the counter, to admit of their being opened, and the mirrors are very liable to be broken, as they face outside, and are pressed upon by reachingin, and have toswing clear over and down, in order to get to the forward part of the case.

The advantages of our improved method of constructing show-cases, and the arrangement of sliding the doors, for getting into the case, and holding them in any position, either closed or open, will readily bev seen and-appreciated,-and may be enumeraterlas ;Follows: v v

The cases can be made cheapenthe sliding doors fitted more easily and close'ir, to keep out the dust; are more conveniently opened and closed; less liable to get out of repair or broken; dispense with hinges and catches, and economize room, which is a great desideratum in n'arrow stores and sales-rooms.

Our improved show-cases are set on a counter or stand, with the back edge of the case projecting over the edge of the counter sufficient for the doors to slide' by, and'when pressed down by the knob, do not come in contact, necessan'ly, with anything. They may be partially opened at the top, which will be often quite suflicient .for the purpose,or when clear down, the mirror is protected by the back of the door, the same as when it is closed.

We do not claim, broadly, the'use of sliding fiames, sash, or doors, for opening or closing, nor fiiction- Springs, for holding slides in position, for they are old and common property; but i 7,'

What we do claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

^ A counter show-case, constructed substantially in the manner as herein described.

In testimony whereof, we j ointly hereunto Subscribe our names, in the presence of- NOAH MAYO. EBN s. MoRsE.

Witnesses:

` FRANK O. Mosns, Jos-M. HYns. 

